I have a growing obsession with any fm station that plays what some would call "soft rock." These stations are sometimes called "Jack FM" or "Lite Rock, Less Talk," or some other description that lets me know I have descended so deeply into irrelevancy that there is no coming back. I don't really care because the other options seem much more evil. Take Top 40 - Tranny Gaga, Rapper who frequently speaks about his riches, JoBros, Katy Perry, Or how about Active Rock - Godsmack, Disturbed, Staind, or Fukdown, or Angerhatechild, for example.

I could delve into Country, but that wouldn't be much fun, because those artists typically do not operate like other acts spanning the musical spectrum. They usually don't take themselves very seriously, and would make fun of themselves in a much funnier way than you or I ever could. (Have you heard of this Jeff Foxworthy fellow?) From a person who deeply loves the aesthetics that go into making a great artist, this makes Country singers my least favorite, but they would probably score highest on my list as actual human beings because of this same reason. I honestly don't really like speaking badly of any music, because I can usually find some redeemable quality in most anything (I'm an optimist at heart), but let's face it....the radio is usually not terrific. The point is, of the choices usually given, I usually choose "Soft Rock."

Driving home this Saturday from depositing a hard earned check into my financial institution, I tuned into Shreveport's 96.5 or KVKI as its known to most people over 50. Instantly, I was taken away to a magical place, a place I visited many times as a young person... Medieval England. It is here that a courageous young man named Robin of Loxley, and his Moorish friend Azeem (sp?), fought back against an evil tyrant who proudly called himself The Sherriff of Nottingham.

I'm speaking of 1991's Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, the song which allowed this wonderful time warp is Bryan Adam's, "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You." I probably saw this movie in the theatre four times, a record that was almost defeated by The Waterboy. Its not that I wanted to see these movies that many times, it just sort of happened that way. And any explanation for this would seem as absurd as the act itself.

But please, tell me that you weren't moved by Kevin Costner's dashing performance as Robin of Locksely, or how about Alan Rickman as the Sheriff? Sure Azeem was played by Morgan Freeman, and Mary Elizabeth Something was Maid Marion, but it was not their talent that made this the epic of the summer (it was the camera shot that followed the arrows). To me, this story wasn't about Robin stealing from the rich, or fighting a tyrant, or even winning a lady's heart...this movie was about him connecting with his new found brother Will Scarlett, played by the incredibly adept Christian Slater. I think most film critics would agree with me on this one, and the fact that the David Bowie-inspired witch was pretty damn scary. I still have nightmares about the scene where she anxiously notes, "The painted man, he haunts my dreams." This statement is seemingly pretty racist, but it turns out she had good reason for feeling this way.

You know, you could come with me to visit this magical time and place. All you have to do is push play on that video down there.

"All Things Must Pass" - George Harrison

When I want to really listen to something, not just play it for background purposes, or to enhance a sexual mood in those around me... I listen to vinyl. Granted, this seems fairly cliche because right now everybody seems wrapped up in the "I love vinyl" mind collective that has infiltrated so many upwardly mobile young adults, but let's take a second to discern why.

First, vinyl is extremely romantic as far as a physical medium for music. I would say, arguably the most romantic form ever created (apologies to the 8-track). As we continue to see physical mediums of music vanish into an oncoming digital cloud, I truly believe that vinyl will be the last remaining way to hold music in your hand. It seems weird, but ask yourself when is the last time you actually bought a CD player? An iPod is simply a storage device (with a pretty heavy form of systematic obsoletion built in) and will be out the door sooner than we think. So here's to blowing the dust off of your parent's record collection (my apologies to the 8-track).

I went out to a flea market last week and picked up this gem for 9.50 usd. Granted, I had to navigate through plenty of non-ironic blue jean short wearers, patrons who smelled like pirate booty, various bikers who were making passes at each other (could Antique Malls be the new Bath Houses of our time?), and a tremendous amount of socks, but it was all worth it in the end.

Pull up the track "My Sweet Lord" and you will realize why it will always be hard to challenge The Beatles as "Best Band In The Universe." This is mainly because their THIRD best songwriter was probably better than 90 percent of all primary songwriters in any band. This album is a treasure trove of incredible jingles, and probably because he had some serious heavyweights helping him out. Eric "God" Clapton, and a little known beat poet named Bob Dylan (who I think was actually Jewish, yep going with Jewish) are contributing members to All Things Must Pass. Very Spiritual.